NewClearSports

I guess I should let everybody know that I have as of this weekend went with the suggested right 270. It is very must like freeflydrew has explained. One should fly the pattern for set up then initiate the landing not fly the carving 270 through the pattern. The deciding factor was that the right 270 can be done outside the pattern in clear air space - Once it was explained to me thoroughly (With the drawing) it made a lot of sense. I do make sure I look over my shoulder and initiate my fist 90 conservatively. Thanks everyone for teaching me something new..

Why I think 180s are more dangerous. 1. Most often your set up is in the down wind direction as you most likely want to land into the wind, this means your traveling very fast, your canopy is loosing altitude fast (You can maintain alt much better into the wind or crosswind) if you want to land in a specific area and get a nice swoop you really have to be on the ball, and it is all quick decision making. 2. 180s are very dangerous for someone who is programmed to land into the wind. A lot of us are. The panic that can occur when going downwind and being low can make for bad decisions - The broken leg I spoke of happened with someone coming back from a long spot, holding and holding to set up above the spectator area. He was way too low, maybe 150 and he cranked it to woo the crowd or maybe because of panic (He has no memory) but the nose of his canopy and his body hit at the same time. 3. I also think 180's encourage snappy dive turns more then carving turns. If you carve a 180 you get all the speed build up from the downwind leg (at the top) and then it slows down with your landing swoop. *Thought process* I had a crappy swoop - I guess I will turn it a little lower and a little faster - In this case a little 100ft makes a BIG difference. 4. The crosswind 180 has a HUGE difference in altitude loss depending if initiated downwind or upwind. A person might do 3 or 4 crosswind 180s into the wind and have a comfortable set up at say 450 ft. Then get a bad spot and end up on the other side of the DZ for set up and do their crosswind 180 in the downwind direction. Lets hope they don't use the same set-up altitude. Anyway, I'm not an expert, and I use to do 180's until I had a very close call and Dave Brown and Mike Swanson told me to quit it before I became a fatality. I took their advice very seriously. Cheers, Blue ones Mike

This is for Alambic and Steel. Alambic did you notice that Steel is flying a 55VX. I think this guy can decide if he should fly a cypress. Heck I bet this guy's brain makes faster calculations then that cypress on your back. I mean a 55VX!! that is amazing - I'm not too worried that Steel will forget to pull. Just so you know I am pro cypress and use mine on every jump, but I only fly a 96 Velocity. Wow a 55VX!!!

Thanks for everyone's suggestions. I see that some say go left and some say go right. I think what everyone must understand is that I do a "Carving Turn" not a snappy 270 dive. I do the 270 because it is the safest with lots of outs. I did 180 for a while and realized that they break legs more then any other turn. Watched a guy break his femor with a low 180. Also everyone should know I land in "The box" wich is a North or South landing only (90% time crosswind) for Experienced flyers - Large canopys and students that land into the wind land outside "The Box". I will tell you that I have been doing Left 270 to go with the traffic, but I have had more experieced people tell me I should be doing the right 270 on the final leg as mention by some of you - and I would agree if I was doing a steep diving 270 but I'm not into that right now. I find with the long carving 270 I get just as good a swoop and more accuracy. What it all comes down to is that I just want to do what is best. Everyone should know that I bail with my 270 at least 30% or the time because I'm not confortable with the traffic. This to me also poses a question about exit order - Should we start thinking about wing loading when thinking about exit order ??? Cheers and blue skies Mike

COBALT 120 FOR SURE!! The Cobalt will create more lift, it is superior in every way. You won't have to cut it away with line twists. I bought a 95 and when I was looking for a 105 and after 100 jumps I want a smaller one. Cobalts also have light front riser pressure which make nice carving turns easy and when you let up it levels out very quickly.

1. Lift up your goggles under canopy - Some of those cheap goggles (Student goggles) distort your depth perception. 2. Understand what your flare does to the wing above your head, remember that it is variable not ON/OFF like so many students think - Were you taught "Ready Ready - Flare!!" 3. Do lots of Flares up high - Figure out where your canopy pulls out to level flight and where the brakes kick it, and where it stalls - The worst landings are when a student over flares and stalls the canopy. Even a student needs to have a small swoop to get a good landing. 4. Lastly talk to experienced people at your DZ about the things listed above - you need more information - I can't write it all.

Any comments on how best to set up a 270 carving turn (Safety wise) with a left hand landing pattern? The debate is weather to fly the left hand pattern and do a right 270 on the final leg, or to fly the carving 270 left and merge keeping everyone in front of you.

Any comments on how best to set up a 270 carving turn landing with a left hand pattern. The debate is wether to fly the left hand pattern and do a right 270 on final or to do a left 270 to merge and keep the traffic in front of you at all times